Hitching device.



No. 886,166. v PATENTED APR. 2a. 1908.

A. WAGNER. HITG'HING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

; acter which is formed to be supported on the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM WAGNERJOF GEORGETOWN, OHIO.

HITCHING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM WAGNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Georgetown, in the county of Brown, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in trace fasteners and it has particular reference to a device of this charfront beam of a vehicle and to usurp the functions of the whifile-tree.

In connection with a device of the above type the invention aims as a primary object to provide a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the details of which will appear in the course of the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, like characters of reference designating similar parts throughout the several views, wherein:

Figure 1 is a. plan view illustrating the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 13, 1907.

front beam of the wagon, a portion of the shafts projecting therefrom and the present invention applied thereto and in use. Fig. 2 is an enlarger plan view of the trace fastener per 86, one position thereof being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a trace fastener per 86.

Referring specifically to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the front cross beam of the vehicle, and the numeral 2 the shafts projecting forwardly therefrom. At the j oint of the beam 1 and the shafts 2 the trace fasteners forming the subject matter of the resent invention are mounted. Each trace astener comprises a plate 3 which at its outer end, is formed with an opening 4, a pivot bolt 5 being projected through the latter and through a boxing 6 secured to the adjacent shaft 2 by screws 7, the bolt 5 being held against axial displacement by a nut 8. The plate 3 is formed with an upwardly eX- tending transverse lug 9 provided with a horizontal slot 10, and inwardly of said lug is an integral post 11, having a shouldered upper end 12, upon which is pivoted a key 13, comprising a working portion 14 and a finger piece 15. The working portion 14 is l Patented April 28, 1908. Serial No. 373,439.

designed upon pivotal movement of said key to engage in the slot and through an opening 16 provided in the trace 17. Surrounding the post 11 is a torsional spring 18 which has one end engaged with the base 3 and its other end engaged with the key 13, the spring 18 serving to force said key into the recess 10 as will be readily understood. The plate 3 is formed at its inner end with a transverse slot 19 through which is engaged a screw post 20 carried by the beam 1, the latter constituting a guide for the plate 3 in its pivotal movement. A torsional spring 21 is fastened to the beam 1 by staples 22 and its free end is bent as at 23'to engage the front edge portion of the plate 3 and to normally force the same inwardlyon its pivot 5, whereby said plate will not project beyond the beam 1 and rub against the horses.

The trace 1? may be detached by moving the key 13 to the dotted line position of Fig. 2, such movement being manually effected by means of the finger piece 15.

The trace fasteners by virtue of their pivotal mount, may swing with the traces in the same manner as the whiffie-trees, and are cheaper, stronger and generally more efficient than whiffle-trees and at the same time considerable less expense is involved in their manufacture.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple and efficient means are provided for accom lishing the objects of the invention, but whi e the elements herein shown and described are well adapted to serve the functions set forth, it is obvious that various minor changes may be made in the proportions, shape and arrangement of the several parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the type set forth, comprising the combination with the front cross beam of a vehicle, of a plate pivoted'at its outer end to said cross beam, displaceable independently movable trace fastening means carried by said plate, and a spring for moving said plate rearwardly on its pivot- 2. A device of the class described comprising the combination with the front cross beam of a vehicle, of a plate pivoted at its outer end to said cross beam for horizontal swinging movement, means for limiting the swinging movement of said plate in either direction, displaceable independently movable trace fastening means carried by and movable with the plate, and a spring tending to hold said plate normally at the rearward limit of its movement. I

3. A device of the type set forth, comprising the combination with the front cross beam, of a vehicle, of a plate pivoted at its outer end to said cross beam for horizontal swinging movement, said plate being formed with a transverse slot, a post carried by said beam and projecting through said slot, a

spring secured to said beam and bearing against said plate, said spring tending to hold said plate at the rearward limit of its movement, and trace fastening means car ried by said plate.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ADAM WAGNER. Witnesses:

T. C. MoNoUM, J. BELL. 

